Evaluation Team Leader for Mid-term Performance Evaluation of Fulbright University Vietnam

Evaluation Team Leader

Mid-term Performance Evaluation of Fulbright University Vietnam

USAID Learns

Hanoi, Vietnam

Apply here

https://phg.tbe.taleo.net/phg02/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=SOCIIMPA2&cws=43&rid=4745 [1]

Note: This post is open to both international and local candidates.

About Social Impact

Social Impact (SI) is a global development management consulting firm. We provide monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity-building services to advance development effectiveness. We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. Since 1997 we have worked in over 100 countries for clients such as US government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits.

Project Objective

SI is implementing the USAID/Vietnam Learns Contract (USAID Learns). The scope of the five-year project is to support USAID/Vietnam staff and partners to implement more efficient, effective, and transparent programs by improving: (1) USAID and Implementing Partner (IP) capacity to achieve expected results; (2) USAID’s understanding and tracking of project performance; and (3) collaboration, learning, and adapting (CLA).

Background

Launched in 2016, Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV) is the first fully independent, non-profit university in Vietnam. FUV marks a cornerstone of the U.S.-Vietnamese partnership in higher education. Founded on the Vietnamese-American partnership, the FUV model is based on American traditions of rigorous liberal arts education, and is firmly rooted in Vietnam’s culture and heritage. FUV aims to bring world-class university standards to Vietnam and help unlock the tremendous potential in Vietnam’s education sector. Since its establishment, USAID has provided three grants for FUV. USAID’s support is expected to help FUV establish itself as a self-sustaining, world-class university that prepares a new generation of leaders from across the country to tackle 21st-century challenges and drive Vietnam’s socio-economic development. By September 2023, the total number of enrolled students was 848, among which 727 were undergraduate students, and 121 were graduate students. 95 students took part in the first undergraduate commencement of FUV held in June 2023.

Purpose and Use of the Evaluation

This midterm performance evaluation comes at the end of the first two years of the third grant of USAID for FUV. The primary purpose of this evaluation is to examine the extent to which FUV has achieved the goals of USAID support, particularly in improving the quality and sustainability of FUV’s programs, and make recommendations for USAID’s future support. The evaluation should be able to reflect the progression of FUV over time, and also investigate the impact of COVID-19 on FUV’s performance.

Position Description

USAID Learns seeks an Evaluation Team Leader to lead this assignment. The team leader will work closely with a Higher Education Management Expert and an Evaluation Coordinator to conduct the evaluation. A higher education expert from USAID Washington is likely to join the team as an advisor.

Research Questions

The evaluation will respond to the following questions:

1.    To what extent has FUV achieved the goals and objectives of USAID’s grants?

• To what extent has FUV achieved the objectives of the three grants? Are there any gaps or unreached goals?  What interventions or approaches have achieved greater results and/or less effective in achieving desired results?
• What was the progression of FUV over time in reaching its aspiration to provide a “world-class, liberal arts education” (particularly in aspects of accreditation, faculty qualifications, and research)? How has FUV progressed over time in terms of academic and research excellence? 
• What were the key enabling or inhibiting factors that determined the degree of achievement? Did COVID-19 have any impact on the performance of FUV? How did the University navigate through the pandemic?

2.    To what extent has FUV achieved institutional sustainability as a non-profit world-class university in Vietnam?

• To what extent has FUV achieved institutional sustainability in terms of institutional structure, governance, partnership, and academic programs?
• To what extent has FUV been able to meet market demand (for FUV students and FUV programs)?
• To what extent has FUV been able to sustainably finance its operations?

Methodology

Evaluators will review and finalize these questions in collaboration with the Mission prior to finalizing the evaluation design.

USAID expects that, at a minimum, the evaluation team will:

• Upon award, familiarize themselves with documentation about the Mission’s support for FUV. USAID will ensure that this documentation is available to the team prior to the commencement of the work.
• Review and assess the existing performance and effectiveness information or data.
• Conduct site visits for field testing survey instruments (when applicable and feasible).
• Meet and interview USAID project beneficiaries, partners, and host government counterparts at appropriate levels.
• Interview USAID staff and if applicable, a number of sectoral experts needed for the evaluation.

The desk review will include at a minimum:

• Materials related to USAID’ investment in FUV.
• Materials related to FUV performance: Annual and Quarterly Reports, Annual Work Plans, MEL Plans, sector assessments, trip reports, performance reports, budgets, and gender analysis reports.
• Miscellaneous thematic reports from other sources and projects by other donors.
• National policy and strategy documents related to higher/university education.

The evaluation design in response to this SOW should be submitted for USAID review and approved prior to primary data collection. The evaluation design matrix should include a data analysis plan for each evaluation question.

The evaluation team, in collaboration with USAID, will finalize the evaluation methods before fieldwork begins. Explicit attention to gender and social inclusion issues must be integrated into the evaluation if equity and specific project objectives related to gender equality objectives are to be addressed.

Deliverables and Timelines

The study’s inception will tentatively take place in March 2024, allowing for data collection to begin in April 2024. Report drafting and finalization will happen from May to June 2024. An indicative list of deliverables and their corresponding timelines is set out in the table below.

Timelines: February 2024 – June 2024

Level of effort (LOE): up to 77 days

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of the evaluation design including methodology, instruments, and workplan
• Perform desk review and identify additional information required for analysis
• Conduct and oversee the consultant team to conduct data collection for the evaluation
• Coordinate team’s ongoing analysis of qualitative and quantitative data 
• Lead the preparation and presentation of the evaluation design, key findings, and recommendations to USAID together with the evaluation team
• Write the draft evaluation report with support from the team members, taking into consideration feedback from presentations and consultation workshops
• Respond to comments on the draft report and prepare final report
• Work collaboratively with team members throughout design, implementation, analysis, and report writing to complement each other’s areas of expertise

Qualifications 

• A Master's degree related to development or higher education.
• At least 10 years of experience leading large, complex evaluations of higher education initiatives utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Advanced knowledge and skills in performance evaluation design, methodology and processes.
• Experience managing higher education institutions preferred
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including experience successfully interacting with host government officials, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent team leadership and management skills.
• Excellent skills in planning, facilitation, and consensus building.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to keep to a timeline.
• Proficient in writing and spoken English.
• Good writing skills, with extensive report writing experience.
• Understanding of USAID programming is preferable.
• Experience working in the region, and experience in Vietnam is desirable.
• No relations with FUV or other interests that may compromise the Evaluation Team Lead’s actual or apparent impartiality.

The closing date for application: January 17, 2024. Selection and interviews will be performed constantly and interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

To apply, please merge both your CV and a cover letter into one pdf file and submit it through the online portal.

To learn more about Social Impact, please visit our website:http://www.socialimpact.com [2]

SI is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls, no visits.